Half a mile to the north west of the village of Arittapatti is a hillock called Kalinjamalai

( Arittapatti village is Near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, In India )

Arittapatti was to be a flourishing Jaina centre until the Ninth century… This is confirmed by the period rock carving of a seated Tirthankara, canopied by a triple umbrella over his head;

Non-injury to all living beings is the only religion.” (first truth of Jainism) “In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self, and should therefore refrain from inflicting upon others such injury as would appear undesirable to us if inflicted upon ourselves.”

“This is the quintessence of wisdom; not to kill anything. All breathing, existing, living sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure unchangeable Law. Therefore, cease to injure living things.”

“All living things love their life, desire pleasure and do not like pain; they dislike any injury to themselves; everybody is desirous of life and to every being, his life is very dear.” Yogashastra (Jain Scripture) (c. 500 BC)”

On the eastern face of the hill is a cavern with a drip-ledge cut into the outer face of the rock.

On the brow of the cave is found a Bramhi inscription which has been dated to between the second and first century B.C.

The inscription, engraved as a single line with 33 letters and running for 3.10 metres, reads as follows: ilanjiy vel mapparavan makan emayavan nalmuzhaukai kotupithavan.

It means, “Emayavan, son of Mapparavan, chief of Ilanji, has caused the carving of this auspicious cave.”

“Mahavira proclaimed in India that religion is a reality and not a mere social convention.

It is really true that salvation can not be had by merely observing external ceremonies.

Religion cannot make any difference between man and man.”

~~~Rabindranath Tagore

Jain Thirthankara sculpture is carved out with engravings below.

“We learn from scriptures (Sashtras) and commentaries that Jainism is existing from beginningless time.

I live in madurai , a city ,in the state of Tamil nadu , in the south of India.

It is famously known as the temple city or the Athens of the east. Madurai is surrounded by several mountains. Madurai city has 3 hills as its city boundary.

Yanaimalai, Nagamalai, Pasumalai named after Elephant, Snake and Cow respectively.

Many stone statues and other artifacts are present in these hill

I have been exploring these hills alone and with friends for the past year or so.

I will share photos of these beautiful statues , inscriptions and the rock formations on these hills in the series

“ Living rocks“…

I will start this series with…

Jain hill at Keelakuyilkudi

An 8 feet high Theerthangarar figure with an inscription at its foot is seen

at the cave known as in the southern part of the hillock.

(Jain scriptures define the term tirthankara as follows: the contrivance which help to cross the great ocean of worldly life is called Tirtha and the person who makes that tirtha is known as tirthankara )

The most beautiful bas-relief of the Tirthankara in Madurai ( if not in Tamil nadu )

A Jain temple prospered here from 1st century to 10th century with large number of students.

Travel to be in the wilds....with an eye for elephants...Iam in search of self..& sometimes I DO find meaning ..." like snow , one has to wash oneself of one's own self..." ..to explore one's own end..and I prefer to be an unseen silent observer.....
Nature I believe.. speaks when you are silent ..and is silent when you speak...